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Originally Posted by mattreedah
he could really deliver the goods (i say that as someone who actively worked for his main challenger in 2007). They wink and nod to extremism by providing the mobs with platforms in city meetings. They have been generally afraid to fix homeless issues or do so kicking and screaming.
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lol let's not push revisionist history here.
Becker was a mediocre mayor whose accomplishments in two terms are so little that he was rightfully booted out of office. Salt Lake hasn't had a decent mayor since Rocky Anderson. Becker ranks among the worst - from his handling of the homeless shelter debacles to his extreme ignorance on policing. His time in office was a near-disaster only masked by his affable attitude. As average as Jackie was as mayor, at least she had the foresight to realize a second term would not be best for the city. Becker's humongous ego pushed him to run for a ridiculous third-term after failing the city in his second term and we're still trying to recover from it.
At least Rocky was bold in his vision about what he wanted to make downtown - and the foundation he laid is absolutely having a positive impact on the city today (steering business to Main Street, which really ushered in a period of significant development through the initial RDA loans, pushing for walkable, urban development on 400 South by forcing zoning changes in the early 00s and, of course, being an advocate for changing Utah's awful liquor laws). I'd take that approach over the milquetoast Becker-Jackie-Erin administrations.
It's not liberal progressives who are holding the city back - it's mayors who are too afraid to shake things up. Jackie was likely the best opportunity of this but she just didn't have the muster to shake it up successfully, though, I give her credit for trying. Erin might as well be the mayor of South Salt Lake or Murray with how she's running things. My biggest regret, vote wise, was supporting her campaign last November.